Richmond’s Jewish Care Line, Responding with Care to those in Need.
In 2017, all Richmond’s Jewish organizations, Rabbis, and Synagogues, and committed individuals came together to understand and respond to the number of Jewish individuals and families in 
crisis. What they learned is that across the U.S., many Jewish families or individuals live in or are in danger of sliding into financial distress. Usually, it only takes one or two unexpected challenges for many people or families to struggle to provide for their basic needs. Many of the agencies and group members already tried to help vulnerable people or families. But, what is needed is confidential, coordinated, personalized resources developed over time together with the family or individual.
The Richmond Jewish Care Line, supervised by a Task Force of leading Partners, harnesses the community’s combined resources to assist someone during a crisis and will help them get back on their feet. With one phone call, the Care Line staff will confidentially help navigate those in need to available services, provide customized support, and help them start planning for the future.
Connecting people with help:
Once someone makes a call to 804-525-8299, the Jewish Care Line number, they are connected with caring and experienced Case Managers at JFS who will confidentially work with them on the issues that they are facing. The Case Manager will continue to work with the individual or family, side by side, supporting them throughout their journey back to stability.
The Care Line staff will immediately help with short term needs like getting dinner on the table, keeping the heat on this winter, or assuring a place to live. They will also connect people to services that lead to greater stability like job search support or help with understanding healthcare or health insurance options. For every client, the Care Line will offer confidential and personalized services especially designed for that family or individual.
No one should be embarrassed to ask for help
Too many people in the Jewish community are facing significant stress due to job loss, mental health or medical issues, or family emergency. It is important for them to know they are not alone and their situation is not unique, though it is quite painful. The Care Line staff understands that the people who are calling are in a difficult place. Callers can depend on confidentiality, compassion, and understanding; not judgment.
If you know someone who is struggling to get by and needs help, please encourage them to call the Richmond Jewish Care Line at 804-525-8299. The sooner they call, the sooner the Care Line staff can help them resolve their immediate issues and start planning for the future.
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